Getting around Austin from The Driskill
The Driskill sits at 604 Brazos Street (corner of 6th and Brazos) in downtown Austin, so most downtown sights and the Austin Convention Center are within easy walking distance. For trips farther afield, use Capital Metro rail/bus, rideshares or the 100-Airport Flyer between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and downtown.
In this guide
Getting to and from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
The closest airport is Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS); drive time into downtown varies but is commonly reported as about 14–22 minutes depending on traffic. A taxi fare has been cited around $20 one-way, and rideshare options (Uber/Lyft) are widely available at the airport.
A low-cost transit option is Capital Metro’s 100-Airport Flyer bus, which runs between the airport and downtown roughly every 30 minutes and is a direct public-transit link to the area near The Driskill. If you prefer rail, the Downtown MetroRail station is a short walk from the hotel and connects to North Austin/Leander on weekdays and Saturdays.
- Taxi/ride-hail: door-to-door, most direct
- 100-Airport Flyer: frequent, low-cost shuttle to downtown
- CapMetro Rail (Red Line): commuter rail to/from downtown (service days and schedules vary)
| Option | Typical Notes | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Rideshare/taxi | Fastest door-to-door, variable price | Arriving with luggage or off public-transit hours |
| 100-Airport Flyer (CapMetro) | Runs ~every 30 minutes; low fare | Budget travel or peak traffic times |
| CapMetro Rail (Downtown station) | Commuter train service into downtown | If your schedule matches rail service times |
Walking and nearby attractions
The Driskill’s address (604 Brazos Street) places it on Historic Sixth Street and within short walking distance of many downtown destinations. Sixth Street itself is about a 1–2 minute walk, the Paramount Theatre only a couple minutes away, and the Texas State Capitol is roughly a 10–12 minute walk.
Other walkable targets include the Austin Convention Center (about a 5–10 minute walk), Lady Bird Lake (roughly a 10-minute walk), and the Congress Avenue Bridge. Downtown Austin is generally pedestrian-friendly for short trips between these sites.
- Historic Sixth Street: ~1–2 minutes on foot
- Paramount Theatre: ~1–2 minutes on foot
- Texas State Capitol: ~10–12 minute walk
- Austin Convention Center: ~5–10 minute walk
- Lady Bird Lake / Congress Avenue Bridge: ~10 minutes on foot
| Place | Approx. walk time from The Driskill |
|---|---|
| Historic Sixth Street | 1–2 minutes |
| Paramount Theatre | 1–2 minutes |
| Texas State Capitol | 10–12 minutes |
Public transit: buses, rail and downtown links
Downtown has several CapMetro services. The Downtown MetroRail station (near the Austin Convention Center) provides commuter rail service on weekdays and Saturdays and is a short stroll from The Driskill. Local buses run through downtown on major corridors; schedules and routes change seasonally, so check CapMetro for current timetables.
If you plan to use transit frequently, buy fares or passes via the CapMetro app or local ticket outlets. For short downtown hops, consider the e-bike share or scooters (see the next section) as flexible alternatives.
- Downtown MetroRail: commuter rail service (check days of operation)
- Local CapMetro buses: multiple downtown routes and connections to greater Austin
- CapMetro app: buy fares, view routes and real-time arrivals
| Transit | Use case | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown MetroRail | Commuter trips to North Austin/Leander | Not a full seven-day schedule; check days/times |
| CapMetro buses | Local and regional connections | Routes and frequency vary by corridor |
| 100-Airport Flyer | Airport ⇄ downtown | Runs ~every 30 minutes; low fare |
Bikes, scooters and pedicabs
Downtown Austin supports several micromobility options. CapMetro operates an electric pedal-assist bikeshare with pay-per-minute or short-trip passes; separate private providers (Lime, Bird and others) place electric scooters around downtown that you can unlock with their apps.
Pedicabs operate in busy downtown areas, especially on weekends and during events; they are not metered, so fares are negotiated with the driver. These options are practical for short trips in the evenings or during event periods when streets are crowded.
- CapMetro bikeshare: electric pedal-assist; fare options include per-minute or day passes
- Scooters (Lime, Bird, etc.): unlock with provider app; useful for quick downtown hops
- Pedicabs: negotiated fares, common on Sixth Street and event nights
| Option | Best for | Payment |
|---|---|---|
| Bikeshare | Short daytime sightseeing | CapMetro app or kiosk |
| Scooters | Quick downtown hops | Provider app (credit card) |
| Pedicabs | Evening entertainment district trips | Cash or app if driver accepts |
Rideshares, taxis and valet parking
The Driskill offers valet-only parking with in/out privileges; one OTA listing cites a valet fee figure but hotel policies and amounts can change, so check with the front desk at arrival. There is no self-parking on site.
Rideshare and taxi pickups work well from the hotel’s main entrance on Brazos Street. For fast point-to-point travel around the city—especially to evening events or destinations outside walking distance—Uber and Lyft are widely used in Austin.
- Hotel valet-only parking (verify current fee and availability with the hotel)
- Rideshare/taxi pickup from the hotel entrance on Brazos Street
- Use rideshare for late-night travel or trips beyond downtown walking range
| Service | Good for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Valet parking | Guests bringing cars | In/out privileges; ask front desk for current fee |
| Rideshare/taxi | Point-to-point city travel | Convenient for airport transfers and evenings |
| Hotel concierge | Booking cars, directions | Concierge can arrange transfers and local recommendations |
Hotel services to help you get around
The Driskill provides concierge services that can arrange local transport, book tours, and advise on transit and traffic conditions for events like SXSW or ACL. Limo and town car service options are listed among the hotel’s featured amenities.
Complimentary high-speed Wi‑Fi is available throughout the hotel, which will help you use transit and rideshare apps. The front desk and concierge can also advise on micromobility availability, current transit schedules, and the best routes for walking between downtown sites.
- Concierge: arrange transfers, car service, reservations and local advice
- Limo/town car service available as a hotel amenity
- Free high-speed Wi‑Fi throughout the property to use transit and rideshare apps
| Service | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Concierge | Books cars, gives event/traffic advice |
| Limo/town car | Private airport or city transfers on request |
| 24-hour front desk | Assist with arrival/departure logistics and local directions |
